With veterinary care inaccessible to many in Petra, some animal owners resort to methods straight out of the Middle Ages, such as using a red-hot iron in a crude attempt to cauterize a wound. The intention is to cure the animal, but their suffering is only compounded by the excruciating pain of cauterization and the possible resulting infection.

When this donkey’s roughly cauterized wounds became painfully infected, his handler brought him into the clinic. Our veterinarians quickly sedated the terrified animal before administering antibiotics and pain medicine and then carefully removed all the dead skin caused by the cauterization. After cleaning his wounds and admitting him to inpatient care, they spoke to his handler about never again using hot irons in this way. Thankfully, this dear donkey is now recovering from his ordeal and showing improvement every day.

Another donkey was severely harmed when her handler attempted to cure her lameness by burning her left shoulder with a red-hot iron—leaving her in immense pain and no less lame than before. Our staff veterinarians cared for the burn wound and treated the donkey’s lameness. After giving her a three-day rest at the clinic, staff prepped her for discharge, explaining to her handler that his pointless procedure had harmed the donkey and emphasizing the importance of allowing her to rest.